Corn or seed dropper



(No Model.)

G. R. DYKEP. CORN 0R SEED BROWSE,

38, Patented May 31,1898.

UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE..

GEORGE R. DYVKES, OF HAWKINSVILLE, GEORGIA.

CORN OR SEED DROPPER.

SPEOIFIGATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,738, dated May 3 1, 1898. Application filed November 29, 1897. Serial No. 660,127.` (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:1

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. DYKES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hawkinsville, in the county of Pulaski and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Plantersv and Seed- Droppers and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which is appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide a satisfactory planter for corn, peanuts, fieldpeas, and other seeds, the same being adapted to drop 'any number of such seed, the number varying, according to adjustment of the machine, at intervals variable at'will, and operinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a vertical central longitudinalsection of a seed-dropping machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a plan. view of the same, on a larger scale, omitting handles and forward part. Fig. 3 represents a detail perspective View of the cut-olf tube, a part of the spout or chute, and one of the cups and arms, the shaft being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 4 represents a detail view of the shaft and one of the cup-rods with its cup, the shaft and cup being shown in section; and Fig. 5 represents a detail perspective view of one of the .cups and arms, a part of the spout or chute, and the cut-oni disk R and spring after the fashion of aplow. These handlesare connected by a cross-bar C and supported by upright bars or posts D, their lower forward ends being fastened to the said frame.

which may be used in place of the cut-Oiftube T.

To the side bars of theframethe `standards E of a furrow coverer or coverers E2 are bolted, these bei-ng also provided with rear braces E'. The lower ends of the bars or posts D are fastened to the frame by a transverse bracingbolt M, which also supports the rear end of the seedbox K. This box is set and held by screws k in the depressed middle parts Z of cross-bars L', .which are detachably fastened on the said frame by bolts and nuts l or equivalent means. A feed-cup shaftJ turnsin bearings in the top of the said seedbox, being arranged across the line of travel of the ma-v chine and is held in place by cap-plates S, fas tened 'removably to the box by screws S". The saidf shaft4 has a sprocket-wheel I fast oir-it outside of the seedbox, thiswheel be` ing driven by an endless chain H from another sprocket-wheel G, which is fast on 'the rotary shaft F of the-driving-wheel F, turning by contact with the soil immediately behind the furrow-opening plow-point B'. This shaft F is journaled in bearings b, attached to the under side of frame B.. The seed-tube U is attached to the forward end of the seedbox K and communicates at the top withthe interior thereof a little below the level of the said shaft. A spout or chute N, arranged in an'inclined'postion within the forward part of the said box, directs the seed into the said tube. This spout has a central longitudinal slot n, extending from the top down to an opening O, which allows the seed-cups P to pass through the spout in their revolution after they have discharged successively their 'charges of seed. These cups are screw-tapped and turned like nuts on the screw-threaded ends p of their supporting-rods O, the inner ends p of the said rods being also screwthreaded to turn intothe recesses or sockets j, which are screw-tapped at regular radial intervals in the shaft J. Y

A cut-od is provided for insuring the delivery of the entire charge of each cup into the seed-tube U. This cut-off may bea slotted tube T, having a curvature of Ithe same radius as the circle described by the cups in their revolution and fastened at its middle in the opening O', as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, this tube being of sufficient internal diameter to allow the passage of the cups through 2 etats@ it without friction, the longitudinal slot T in the inner side of the said tubo and the eorrespending slot n in the spout N permitting the rods O to turn With the shaft J, or the eut-off may loo a dish R, normally held over the opening O' by a spring Qa, Fig. 5, to which it is attached. This spring secured to the spout N and bont at g, said spring being normally inclined across the slot n, so thatI each arm 0 will sueeossively eoxnein Contact with it immediately after the 'seed-cup has delivered its charge and will then force the' said spring and dish to one side, uncovering the :opening O i'orthe eup toY pass Ythrough into the seed box again, after which the said spring nieves tiles-aid dish into position over the opening again. l

As the machine is drawn forward ,the rotation. of its driving wheel F, being transmitted to its seed-eup shaft J, causes the oups P to sueeessively dip the seed from the seedhoff. h1' and diseharge it into the seed-tube through the lower end of the spout. Any seed which may fall from the @up at any point of its revolution after il; has come above the top of the snout will pass down the latter to the seed-tube. lVhen the regulating-tube l isnsed, it oeeupios only the middle part of the Width of the spout aud the seed passes down the spout at the sides ol the said tube, all being lisfreharged before the eup enters the latter. Of eourse the seed cannot ollouftho cup into the tube, as the upper en d el. the lat` ter rises above the spout and the slot T toe narrow to admit any oi" it. The slot 'a is also too na "Jew to let any of the seed pass down into the seedbox through the spout or ohute. The detaehability of the seed-oups allows a larger or smaller Cup to be substituted at any time vfor that hei'ore used to vary the charge or adapt the niaehine to be used with a diiiferent hind ol. seed. rlhe detaohability of. the arms il from theshai't allows the number oi? oups in use to be varied thereby inoreamine,` or deereasing the iutorrah-i between the mns.

lhis machine willaoouHitely` drop one grai n of corn in .a hill. it will drop peanuts without breaking the shin. any kind. it roo dires no ilu-eine; derives and has praetii'zally no friet ion ol,` parts within the seedloox or spout. 'lhe dotaehahility oi' tho oup-shat from the seedhox, oi the latter iroin its supportiiig-bars, and of the said hars from the machine-frame greatly facilitates the work of eleaningand repairing.

v llavin',r thus described n1yinveiitioh,wl1at I olaimyas new, and desire ioseeure by `Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with the trame of a seeddropper, a driving-wheel ,iournaled in' the front part therool', a seodbmY carried by the said frame, a seed-tube eonneetod to said box and arranged to drop the seed behind the said wheel,4 a spout or ehute within the said box discharging into the upper end oiY the said tube and providiul with a slot extending,r

ll; will drop seeds of seed-dropping machine, a rotary shaft mount-l ed. in the said box, a cup or oups carried thereby and arranged to dip up the seed and discharge the saine, a spout and seed-tube through .which the seed from the said cup is dropped bythe machine the said spout bein g slotted and having an opening for the passage of the said cup, and aslotted eut-off tube arran ged in the said opening to extend above the saine this tube beinfr ada ted to allow the l s D passage of the Cup through it as the latter is carried around by the shaft substantially as set forth. y

In combination with the seedbox of a seed-dropping inaohine having a. seed-tube Connected thereto, a rotary shaft and a oupred and eup carried thereby, the said eup being arrangedto dip'up seed from the interior of the said box and discharge it into the said tube, and beingr removable at will from the said rod'ior the purpose of allmving the substitution of aeup oi dil'l'erent size substantially as set forth. Ll. in combination withl the seedloex of` a seed-dropping machine having a seed-tube oon ueeted thereto a rotary shaft and cup-rods and oups 'earried thereby, the oups being ar ranged and adapted to sueeessively dip up the seed and discharge it into the seed-tube and the said rods being dotar-.hable from the said shaft, which is provided at `regular intervals lwith means for permitting the attaehulentof a greater or less number at will substantially as set forth.

5. lu a seed-dropping niaehine, a Cup-rodwhieh is sereothreadefl on its ends, in conibination 'with a slmlft and seed-oop which are serenetapped to receive the said ends, aseedbo\r in whioh the said shaft rolates to eauso the said emp to dip up and disoharge the seed, and means for allowing' the .seed 'thus` dis` ehar; ed to pass from lhe machine substantially as set forth.

(i. in eon'ibinaiion with a soedbov and :t spout leading;- to the outlet, a rotary'shaft screw-tapped at regular radial intervals, a se- Vries of rods adapted to .sm-ew into the said shaft in greateror less number and a serios of screw-tapped oups adaptedto turnA on the threaded outer ends of the said rods, nordor thatlargororsnulllfu'oups maybe substituted,-v tho said oups and rods being carried through a slot and opening in the said spout as tho said shaft rotates, l'or the pui-ose set forth.

7. in oolobiuatiou with the Frame ol a seeddroppen', a pair oi' bars or platos ielaehalrly seem-ed thereto and. depressed between the llO 4side bars of the said frame, a. seedbox fastened rigidly but detaohably to the said bars and resting in the' depressed' part thereof, a. shaft journaled in the said seedbox and pro- Vvided with cups which dip up the seed therefrom, a spout o r chuteand seed-tube whereby the seed is received from the said cups and dropped and :L driving-Wheel and gearing whereby the said shaft is rotated substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Itix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE R. DYKES. Witnesses:

ELI W. GooDE, J. L. GRACE. 

